I am getting one done on March 30th, I am 60 years old too. Hopefully they won't find anything.

People should be taking advantage of these test.

Will be thinking of your friend.

Yes, I am due to have one in April.

I am sorry to hear about your friend, my mother had a tumor at 70, she had never had a colonoscopy either, it is 7 years later and she is doing well but had she gone at 50 and gone every 5-10 years it would have been found. There was no history. I had my first colonscopy last May, I am 42 years old.

For those of you who are putting it off or scared, when I tell you the prep is the worst part of the whole thing and that is manageable. You are asleep and wake up with no discomfort whatsoever, and off to take a nap at home or go get something yummy to eat. It's a minor inconvenience at best... don't put it off.

I had my first last June with an OK report. They suggested i have another one in a year, which I;ll do this summer. Really. there is nothing to having one.Please, for those of you, over the age of 50, please don't put it off. Dottie

I echo every word you said. My Mom had colon
cancer, and though it didn't kill her, it gave her
a lot of grief and less than ideal living conditions
for many years.

Because of her cancer, I have a colonoscopy every 3
years and started before the age of 50 too.

To be honest - it is beginning to irritate me to hear
adult people "whining" about "having to have" a
Colonoscopy. Grow up, and perhaps save your own
life.

Sorry - but this is so important.

I've been volunteering in the GI Lab at one of the hosps. here and I can assure you all those patients come in w/ a sense of relief that they are getting this done. One day we had 60. They all come out still alive. I'd like to know how many problems they find but we're not privvy to that. If all those folks can do it, you can do it, too. I've had 2 and there's nothing to it once you get the prep done. Some docs give pills, some give the gallon jug. I'm asking for the pills!!

I had my first colonoscopy last October 31. The prep was bearable, just eat lightly the day before the day before, liquids only on prep day, and keep a clear path to the bathroom. The colonoscopy was no problem at all, I slept through it. My results were good, no big problems, they did find diverticuli and internal hemmoroids, both are treatable with dietary changes. Next one not for another 10 years!

I'm a prime example. I was never sick, never went to the doctor, was very active. When I finally had some symptoms, I went to the doctor and he recommended a colonoscopy. A cancerous tumor was found in my colon and later we found that it had spread to 2 spots in my liver and 1 in my lung. This probably could have been avoided or at least lessoned if I had gone starting at age 50.

The treatments are so much better than they used to be and the suvivor rate much higher, but you do have to go through a lot to get through all the treatments.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend. I have been putting
mine off. I'm overdue for one by at least 4 years. I know
I'm BAD!!!

Sable - it's so good of you to post this. I will add that anyone who has had a history of colon cancer in their immediate family, such as parents, should get a colonoscopy sooner. DH's father, mother, aunt and grandmother all had colon cancer. Fortunately he has a cousin who is a gastroenterologist and she wrote a long letter to all her cousins telling them they should all go in immediately for a colonoscopy and I think they all did. DH had his first colonoscopy around age 40 and several adenomatous (pre-cancerous) polyps were found. So he now has one every three years. I had mine at age 50 and no polyps found so I only have to go every ten years. Family history isn't everything though. The wife of one of my coworkers was recently diagnosed with colon cancer in her mid-40's and she had no known family history.

The procedure and even the prep is really no big deal. Everyone should go do it as recommended - without delay!!

Am so glad to see such positive responses here! The more people coming to post about personal experiences, the better.

I made a mistake when I wrote that we "all" get our pap smears. It's highly probable that Old Joyful does not get one.

Maryann - I am praying that your treatments will be successful and that your health will be fully restored. Thank you so much for telling your story!

Sable

And this message is not just for women.

My DH had colon cancer which took his life at age 58. Colonoscopys were not heard of in those days.

Urge the men in your life to have this done!

Oh, yes, I have and it is nothing to dread.

Sue

I'm so sorry, Sable. My insurance doesn't cover routine cancer screens. But I discovered "blood in my stool" knowing darn well it was from hemorrhoids, but my doctor recommended one for me. Thank goodness. It was because of MaryAnn that I started the ball rolling. Mine was clear, thankfully.

my Doc had me on a no/extremely low fiber diet for 6 days prior... and liquid diet one day, and nothing the morning of the procedure. I think the no fiber was a great help.

((((((MaryAnn)))))(((((((((Sable's friend)))))))))

oh, and you Don't lose any weight! lol procedure done on Thursday, WW way in on Sunday morn... no weight loss! lol I blame that on no fiber, no veggies, no fruit.. totally off weight watchers.. and then no exercise for Wed thru Sunday. lol

Kat - wa -- Please don't say that you are sorry! That makes me feel guilty! : > )

Bad on any insurance plan that doesn't cover cancer screens. That is horrible. And good for you and your clever doctor to find a way to get one for you. While I am not the biggest fan of nationalized medicine, I would happily pay a few extra dollars if that would allow cancer screening for all.

And no, there's no weight loss. DH made up for his "loss" by going out after his last colonoscopy and scarfing down a majorly huge breakfast, lol.

Pap smear ... what's that?

Thirty years overdue for colonoscopy.

My ex-, head of food service in a substantial hosp. for about 20 years (who took early retirement when there was talk of closing her hosp.), contracted colon cancer ...

... and died of it at age 66 (nearly five years ago).

The young ones said that, in the ordinary course, she'd have retired the year before (and been sick most of that year). They were pleased that their Mom had taken early retirement and had 10 years to have a ball.

Daughter had one a couple of years ago ... time for Dad to have one.

Thanks for the advice.

ole joyful

I have a consultation in April; will get the colonoscopy sometime after that.

It's been 6 years since my last one.

Found out last week my sister has colon cancer. She's having surgery soon.

I'm glad to hear your friend has such a wonderful support group. That can make such a difference.

I also put off having a colonoscopy until last year when I was 55. I had a large tumour in the sigmoid colon, a resection and am blessed that it had not spread. I've had 2 colonoscopies since my surgery in Aug 08 and will have them every year now that I have no evidence of the disease - it's not a bad procedure at all!! and it sure beats having cancer :)

My husband has a history of colon cancer on both sides of hios family, so he gets colonoscopies every five years. His cousin recently got his first after having a friend die of colon cancer. He told his friend "You saved my life" by encouraging him to get tested.